Magic Gems Gourmet

Chapter 277

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ED: LonelyMatter

Chapter 277 – The Landlord Returns to the Demon Lord’s Castle

“…”

“…”

(…Silence.)

Several minutes had passed after they boarded the carriage.

Chris and Sylvia sat facing each other in silence.

Every now and then, their eyes met, and Sylvia smiled cheerfully. Chris just gave her a nervous smile in return.

Ain considered saying something, but couldn’t quite find the right moment.

“Hey, Ain-kun.”

“Y-yes?”

“Chris-san looks nervous. What should I do?”

(O-oh no… she asked me directly!)

She looked straight at Ain and asked him cheerfully.

Right next to the confused Ain, Chris shook her body nervously.

“…By the way, the carriage is very quiet. Why is that?”

“Oh? Fufu, you’re so thoughtful, Ain-kun.”

Ain tried to lighten the mood for the nervous Chris.

“I’ll tell you. The carriage is slightly suspended above the ground.”

“When you came to pick us up, I could hear the wheels…”

“If there’s no sound, you’ll be surprised when it suddenly appears, won’t you?”

Now that she mentioned it, it made sense. However, considering they were on a mountain road at night, the sound didn’t bother him that much.

The interior of the carriage was elegant and not much different from what Ain usually used.

However, although the ride was comfortable, Chris was still tense.

(Hmm… I guess it’s natural to be nervous.)

Before the three members of the Magic Stone Group left the royal capital, Chris had spoken with Sylvia and the others.

But…

(This was the first time they had had a chance to talk face-to-face.)

From Chris’s perspective, Sylvia was a relative.

The same was true for Ain; however, in his case, it was due to their history and familiarity with each other.

As Sylvia’s great-great-granddaughter, Chris felt a strange sense of familiarity and tension.

“Hey, Chris-san.”

Before Ain could say anything, Sylvia spoke to Chris.

“Y-yes!”

“I want to get along with you. Is that okay?”

“…No, not at all! But, um… Sylvia-sama is my great-great-grand—”

Great-great-grandmother.

Just as she was about to finish, Sylvia put her finger on Chris’s lips.

“Shh. No, don’t say that. Okay?”

Understanding what she meant, Chris nodded obediently.

When Sylvia finally removed her finger, Chris cautiously opened her mouth.

“May I ask you something?”

“Yes, go ahead.”

“It’s about my grandfather. Is that okay?”

The air inside the carriage froze for a moment, just like the bitter cold outside.

Despite her surprise, Sylvia answered with a gentle expression.

Ain didn’t understand why she was asking such a question now.

She must have her own reasons.

“I’ve always had questions about my grandfather. Ever since I first heard about the hidden bloodline, I’ve been thinking about it, but I couldn’t find the answer.”

Taking a deep breath, she looked straight at Sylvia for the first time.

“Please tell me. Why was my grandfather entrusted to the elves?”

Without hesitation, Sylvia slowly replied.

“…Because Raviola-san didn’t want any confusion.”

“Confusion?”

“Yes, but since Cain and I had already lost our lives, everything I know from this point on is what Warren told me.”

The chief of the elf village said that Warren and Beria knew the reason.

Ain had never heard this before, so he listened intently.

“When Maru-kun—Mark—lost his life, the eldest son of those two had already grown up. If they suddenly announced the appearance of a second child, what do you think would have happened?”

“I think the people would have rejoiced. They would have blessed Raviola-sama’s remaining child.”

“Yes, I think so too. But, you see, the Ishtalika of that time and the Ishtalika of today are two different things.”

Ain understood what she meant.

“In addition to the differences in the country’s foundation, Mark-sama passed away…”

“As you say, Ain-kun, that’s exactly how it is.”

Perhaps a power struggle would arise.

Perhaps the two of them would fight each other.

Perhaps… There were many possibilities.

“Warren and Beria said they would raise the child themselves. However, Raviola-san chose to separate the child from humans.”

The words of the elf chief flashed through Ain’s mind.

“As she held the newborn tenderly, Queen Raviola received a clean cloth from Marco-sama. She wrapped the child in it and kissed him on the forehead. Finally, looking exhausted, she said, ‘I’m sorry,’ and handed the child to me, holding him precious.”

Was she apologizing because she had separated her child from her?

Or was it because she had left the capital city, where the child was supposed to be born, and settled in another land?

Or perhaps both?

“…So, why did you ask me about this now, Chris-san?”

“Well, I thought it would make more sense to ask Sylvia-sama or Cain-sama…”

“Because we’re family, I suppose. I’d rather you ask me than Warren and Beria.”

It was perhaps an unusual time to ask such a question.

With a slight smile, Sylvia put her hand to her cheek in a troubled manner.

“Chris-san is so cute. Can I have her?”

“…Please spare me.”

Shortly after this conversation, the carriage came to a stop.

They had arrived at the entrance to the old royal capital, the Demon Lord’s Castle, earlier than expected, and Ain and Chris were grateful.

◇ ◇ ◇

“The castle has changed.”

The last time Ain had been there was during his battle with Marco.

Compared to then, the dust had disappeared, and the walls, carpets, and furnishings had transformed into something similar to the White King’s castle.

“The landlord is back. If we don’t clean up, it won’t be pleasant to live here.”

“It seems like there are lights everywhere. It must have been difficult because it’s so big.”

“I used my magic, and Cain worked hard on the details, so it wasn’t that big of a deal.”

Ain felt like Cain had done most of the work.

However, he didn’t have the courage to say so.

“Ain-sama. This is my first time here, so I didn’t notice the differences…”

“It was just a bit run down. Marco cleaned it up as much as he could, but there are limits.”

“I see… Oh, by the way, what about that cursed room?”

“Fufu, I told you. The landlord is back, so we cleaned it up nicely.”

According to Sylvia, it had turned into sand.

That unpleasant space has literally been erased, leaving only the path to the royal cemetery.

Ain sensed a similar atmosphere to that of Chris, who destroyed Roundheart’s mansion.

(I should ask for some time right away.)

But he must not forget why he came here; there was something he must ask Sylvia.

Ain took a deep breath and said to her as he walked ahead.

“Sylvia-san. I have something I want to ask you—”

“Don’t be so impatient. We can talk tomorrow. It’s late, and you must be tired.”

“…I’m sorry. That was inconsiderate of me.”

It was rude of him to show up unannounced and ask her such a question at this hour.

He apologized, but she didn’t seem to mind.

As they walked down the hallway, which felt more formal and luxurious than the White King’s, she continued speaking cheerfully.

“How long will you be staying here?”

“Four nights at most. I’ve booked a place to stay in Balt…”

He had planned to stay the night, but he wasn’t sure what to do the next day.

He felt uncomfortable taking advantage of her for his entire stay.

“Don’t say you’re going back to Balt. Cain and I welcome you both here.”

“Um, is it okay if I stay at the castle too?”

Sylvia was about to reply, “Of course,” to Chris, who asked timidly.

However, Sylvia was not the one who answered.

“What are you talking about? We’re family, so there’s no need to be so polite.”

Cain spoke casually from the nearby stairs.

As when he appeared in Aina’s mind, he was wearing only a shirt.

“Ca-Cain-sama… I’m sorry for the sudden visit.”

“Hmph. I told you, there’s no need for that. It’s troublesome when you’re too relaxed, like Arche. But it’s easier for Sylvia and me if you’re more casual.”

“Fufu, that’s what he said.”

The three of them climbed the stairs with Cain and Sylvia walking side by side in front.

They laughed naturally, their shoulders touching. It was clear that they were a married couple.

It seemed that a room had been prepared upstairs. Ain and Chris walked behind them.

“Ain, how has your swordsmanship been lately?”

“I-I’ve been training hard. I mean, I’ve been training with Marco, and I’m better than I used to be.”

“Have you mastered it? That’s good. I’ll take a look while you’re here.”

“…Please go easy on me.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll prioritize your real reason for wanting to ask Sylvia.”

The strongest knight, Cain, said with a grin that made Ain tremble.

Then, as if remembering something, he clapped his hands together and stopped.

“Come to think of it, as a condition for letting Sylvia help you… It sounds mean, but would you mind doing something for me?”

“I don’t mind, but what is it?”

“Well, there’s a dungeon a short ride away by carriage. I’m investigating the monsters there and would like you to help me.”

It was no big deal.

Chris, standing next to Ain, nodded in agreement.

“Sure. Then Chris and I will go.”

“No, I want to talk to Chris-san, so let’s have tea together.”

“M-me…!?”

“Yes, is that okay?”

It’s not that she didn’t want to.

In fact, as Ain’s bodyguard, she felt that she shouldn’t leave him alone.

However, Ain nodded in agreement, as did Chris.

“…Yes, we came unannounced and caused you trouble. If you don’t mind having someone like me around, I’d be happy to keep you company.”

(I guess she figured that with Cain-san around, there wouldn’t be any problems with protection.)

In any case, Chris seemed to have relaxed considerably.

She seemed to have gotten used to interacting with Sylvia and was smiling naturally.

“But what kind of dungeon did Cain-san ask for help with?”

“Actually, Sylvia and I spent a few days there recently. It’s a bit unusual, so we’re investigating it little by little.”

Ain was intrigued by Cain’s explanation that they were struggling not so much with monsters, but with the dungeon itself.

He felt a sense of excitement building deep inside him.

Chris, standing beside him, noticed his expression and sighed, holding her head in her hands.

“Not again… Ain-sama’s chronic condition…”

“I-I think there’s another way to say it, though…”

Then, Cain and Sylvia started laughing, too.

On this day, the Demon Lord’s Castle was filled with laughter for the first time in hundreds of years.

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